A/N: Yo! I leave here my first contribution to the Akuma no Riddle fandom. It's my first published fanfic, so don't expect too much xD
This is important: English is not my first language, neither my second. I'm good at it but, obviously I'm not as good as you people. (I'm assuming that more of the 50% of the readers are gonna be native english speakers or at least people who have a better level than me) So I deeply apologize for all the misspellings and weird sentences you are going to read.
Let me explain: This fic it's just a translation of my fic "Verdadero yo." which is in spanish, and in spanish we use lots of words just to say the same. I'm better translating from English to Spanish than from Spanish to English because I'm very bad at summarize things (this A/N is a good example xD)
For now this fic will be only SumiBanba, but I will add some other OTP for sure (even if it's just a cameo). This chapter is focused on Hanabusa Sumireko, but I will alternate between the two girls. (Yes, counting the two Banbas as a one person)
Disclamer: I don't own Akuma no Riddle.
PS: Maybe it's too obvious, but just in case: Dialogues in quotes, thoughts in italic and the text between the brackets its just a clarification.
A year after Kurogumi's class graduation a certain heiress was in Tokyo, closing some side business on behalf of the Hanabusa Financial Cliqué.
"Miss, the limousine is ready." One of her butlers said with a bow, meeting her at the exit of the building where the meeting was held after the girl cordially dismissed the other businessmen.
"Ara, just in time. How is my schedule?"
"Your father hasn't scheduled another meeting for you until next Tuesday, Miss." The man opened the exit door. When they were out he went ahead and opened the door of the large vehicle for her. "Right now it's six o'clock, so you have a lot of time to assist in the making of the dinner, if you wish."
"I'm glad to hear that." The girl thanked the gesture with a smile before getting into the vehicle. Shortly after he closed the door the limousine was started and the young girl let out a long sigh.
It had been a couple of months since Hanabusa Sumireko was taking charge of the small business and slightly important treatments of his father's company. She would inherit the entire company in a couple of years, so his father proposed this small work to her in order to learn about the business world and, with that, get experience. Sumireko agreed happily without hesitation in part to feel useful for the company and in another to kill the enormous quantity of time she was having between her cooking lessons.
The young girl glanced to the nearest window, diving in her thoughts while she was admiring the blue color that the sky still had.
Her actual live was based in the pure monotony: a little paperwork in the morning, occasional meetings with other businessmen (whom were surprised when they saw her and more when they dealt with her) and finally her cooking lessons. These lessons were also daily, but due to the business they were suspended quite often. Luckily her personal teacher was also the chef of the house, so if she couldn't be present at a class she simply went to see him cook for the family later, trying to take notes of everything she could.
She didn't dislike anything of all this, in fact she loved to feel busy, but simply doing the same thing every day made her feel bored and somewhat unmotivated. Thanks to all the personal teachers that she had had in her childhood Sumireko didn't really need to go to any school, and she missed it. Yes, she missed being in the Kurogumi class. Despite the fact that she was there only to carry out her mission and, with that, satisfy her desire of being the strongest queen she really enjoyed being in a real class with other classmates, homework, festivals and other things.
But certainly what she enjoyed the most was having a roommate. Due to her social and economic status she had never been in this type of situation.
Although she knew perfectly that her roommate was also an assassin she could not help but feel curiosity for the girl. That curiosity was what initially pushed her to want to have more relation with the shy girl and try to establish a friendship between them. That's why every day Sumireko had invited Mahiru to tea, although the silver haired girl had rejected the same invitation the day before. Those shy rejections hadn't put Sumireko back, on the contrary actually, every time she was more eager to have a good relationship with her roommate. Because of that the heiress didn't give up on her.
It has been a year already since all that happened. I wonder if Banba-san is alright…
Since she couldn't give up with the silver haired girl a year ago now she regretted not being able to communicate with her and keep trying.
The girl sighed again, still looking towards the window. It would be great if I could see her one more time…
The red from a traffic light made the limousine stop in one of the streets of the outskirts of the enormous city. It was rather strange that this happened, so when it did Sumireko observed curiously the simple streets, fascinated by the small supermarkets and shops that were in substitution of the huge and imposing buildings that lined the streets in the downtown.
What really caught Sumireko's attention was a silver mane tied in a ponytail that came out from one of the supermarkets. Isn't that…? The blue eyed girl moved closer to the window, unsure if she had seen who she thought she was.
The owner of the mane turned towards the limousine and started walking, revealing with that a pair of violet orbs and a large scar in the left side of her face. Sumireko's heart skipped a beat when she saw her roommate again. She couldn't believe it, the same fate that had been so cruel with the heiress several years ago now was smiling to her?
She decided to not think more about it and take the opportunity that had been given to her.
"¡Roger!" She said calling attention of the driver. "Can we stop here for a second?"
"Eh… That's a little importunate, Miss, but I will do what I can." Backtracking the vehicle he brought it over the sidewalk.
When the limousine was stopped again the heiress got out without waiting for her butler to open the door for her and went to the girl, who already turned the corner, in a fast pace.
"Banba-san!"
The girl froze for a couple of seconds when she heard her name. Then she turned slowly towards the voice's owner. When Mahiru recognized the blue eyed girl her violet orbs opened wide by the surprise and, unconsciously, protected herself with a grocery bag. "Ha-Ha… Hanabusa-san?"
Said girl stopped when she approached Mahiru, with her usual elegant appearance. "Ara, have I scared you? My deepest apologies." Sumireko said with a little bow. "You see, after all this time I found it very curious to see you in Tokyo."
"Eh? N-No! You don't need to apologize… I-It's fine." A little more calmed Mahiru pulled the bag from her face. She breathed slowly, trying to compose herself from the initial shock before speaking again. "Well… I live here now."
Despite the obvious nervousness that the silver haired still had it was possible to appreciate significantly a slight change in behavior. She was less nervous than she used to be a year ago, and Sumireko took that as a good sign. "Ara? Do you live in the capital too? What a nice coincidence! Well, actually my main residence is outside the city…"
Suddenly Sumireko's butler left the passenger seat and approached the two girls. "Miss, excuse me for interrupt your conversation, but I'm afraid that we can't stay here much longer. We're blocking the road."
Sumireko nodded, slightly bothered by the sudden interruption. "Understood, I'll go in a second." The man nodded and returned to the vehicle. When the heiress focused in Mahiru again she noticed that the shy girl was more tense than before. "Banba-san… Are you alright?"
The silver haired girl nodded quickly, relaxing a bit when she noticed that the strange man wasn't there anymore. "Y-Yes… I'm sorry…"
"if you say so… Anyway, I should be going then… Oh! Banba-san, do you want a lift?" She pointed the large expensive vehicle, smiling. "It's not a problem for us."
"N-No… Thank you…" When Mahiru realized that Sumireko's smile was fading she quickly added: "Um… When I said that I live here…" She turned a little, revealing a small apartment block in the next street. "It was literally…"
The sandy blonde studied carefully the building, memorizing unconsciously every inch of it. "I see…" She focused her gaze in Mahiru again and smiled. This time her smile wasn't as genuine and warm as her usual ones, this one had an appreciable hint of disappointment. "Then I suppose this is a farewell…"
"I-I guess…" The younger girl remained silent for a couple of seconds. "Um… It was nice to see you again, Ha-… Hanabusa-san." Mahiru, to Sumireko's surprise, ended the sentence with a little smile.
It took a moment to the older girl to answer, she was too busy admiring that smile. A smile she ended reciprocating with a genuine one. "The same goes for me, Banba-san."
After another silent moment Mahiru turned and started walking.
And it wasn't until she saw her former partner leave that something inside Sumireko shuddered.
Am I letting her go so easily after all?
She shook her head. No, she couldn't do it. She couldn't leave the things like that. After a year without being in contact with her Sumireko wasn't capable of surrender yet.
"Banba-san!" She was determined now, she wasn't going to waste this opportunity. This was her last chance.
Mahiru turned, surprised when she saw the heiress approached her again. "I know this is a bit sudden, but would you like to come over and have some tea this saturday? After all this time we could catch up, don't you think?"
The silver haired girl, as expected, didn't answer instantly. She glanced down at her feet and began to play with the plastic handles of the bag instead.
Sumireko knew too well that pattern. Lower the gaze, fidget, reject the invitation and run away after apologizing. The heiress began to despair, waiting for the third step.
I definitely just wasted my last chance… What I was thinking? It was pretty obvious which was going to be the answer…
After a long silence the older girl decided to be the first to talk. "I'm sorry Banba-san…" In the end take it back will be less painful than another rejection, right? "Probably you're already busy, it has been too sudden. Forget it." She shrugged off the subject with a movement of her hand and finally turned.
When she took the first step towards the limo a voice behind her exclaimed: "N-No!" Sumireko gazed over the silver haired girl now to meet a determined violet orbs.
"I… I want to go-I mean…" Mahiru breathed deeply, trying to compose herself again before continue. "I'll love to go, Hanabusa-san… Saturday…. is p-perfect." She smiled again, but this time her smile was brighter than the one that had adorned her pale face moments ago.
Sumireko took a moment to react, she couldn't process what had just happened. A second ago she was pretty sure that Mahiru was going to reject her invitation and turns out that the heiress was totally wrong.
"R-… Really?" The younger girl nodded and that little gesture alone made Sumireko show one of her warm smiles. "That's wonderful!" Her voice had a hint of excitement. "Then, if that's fine with you, how about if we pick you up at seven?"
Hesitating at first Mahiru nodded again, increasing the peach haired girl's excitement.
"Perfect! Don't worry Banba-san, I will make sure you feel at home." Sumireko was going to say something else but stopped herself when she realized that her butler was leaving the vehicle again. "I have to go now. See you on Saturday, Banba-san." Without losing her smile she curtsied farewell.
She walked to the limo, the butler noticing it went to open her the back door. "Do you think it will be possible to charge sweets to Pierre Hermé for Saturday?"
"Miss, that bakery has a high demand… The time limit in which you can order them something is four days…" The heiress didn't answer, she simply adopted a cold and serious look. "But I'll see what I can do about it…" This time the girl replied with a grateful nod. "Are we going to have guests?"
Sumireko smiled again and before she got in the vehicle she replied: "We will have an honor guest."
A/N: And here the first chapter.
Don't be shy to review or contact me if you just saw an horrible misspell and you want to correct it for the sake of humanity. (?)
You can also review for suggestions, criticize the story or any other comments.
Everything is welcome! :D
Thanks for reading! The next chapter will be published soon!
- Lilli